Listening to Barrett Ruud talk football, it becomes clear the new Nebraska inside linebackers coach is on a mission of sorts.
The featured speaker for Central Florida's Countdown to Kickoff luncheon in Orlando, Osborne -- 255-49-3 (.836) as Nebraska's head coach from 1973-97 -- emphasized the importance of playing with unyielding toughness.
There’s a whole generation of Nebraska fans who have no idea what Ruud’s talking about. Many don’t seem to care. It's sort of ridiculous, really. But Ruud cares deeply about instilling toughness in the program -- thank heavens. He sounds determined to help foster a return of the Osborne culture to his alma mater -- a place where Ruud's father, Tom Ruud, and uncles Bob Martin and John Ruud also played at high levels.